Panic bolt



May 25, 1943.

E. J. G. PHILLIPS PANIC BOLT Filed Aug. 2, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet l m\m 5gs N Hifi/3,.,

May 25, 1943. E. .1 G. PHILLIPS 2,320,298

PANIC BOLT Filed Aug. 2, 1940 6 She'ets-Sheet 2 May 25, 1943.

E. J. G. PHILLIPS PANIC BOLT 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 2, 1940 May 25,1943. E. J. G. PHILLIPS PANIC BOLT 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 2, 1940BNQ May 25, 1943; E. J. G. PHILLIPS 2,320,298

PANIC BOLT Filed Aug. 2, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 3 *SEM/32 Elli/'S :[62Phillips May 25, 1943. E. J. G.. PHILLIPS 2,320,298

PANIC BOLT Filed Aug. 2, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented May 25, 1943PANIC BOLT Ellis J. G. Phillips, Aurora, Ill., assignor toRichards-Wilcox Manufacturing Company, Aurora, Ill., a corporation ofIllinois Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,777

19 Claims.

My invention relates to emergency release door latches frequentlyreferred to in the trade as panic bolts.

In situations where crowds are gathered, such as in theaters andassembly halls, there is always the danger of people becoming injuredfrom the rush of the crowd in case of fire or other imminent danger. Insuch danger, the impulse of the crowd is to charge blindly against anyclosed door in an emergency exit and if there is any delay or difcultyin getting the door open many persons are likely to be crushed ortrampled on by the crowd. Any such door must afford a means of escapewhich is operable automatically and which does not require thinking bythe fleeing crowd. It is therefore an object of my invention to providean emergency door latch which will operate on the first contact of aperson against it.

Another object of my invention is to provide a latch which can beoperated from outside the door as well as from the inside, and which canbe locked against operation from the outside without interference withthe automatic release from the inside.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch which will inordinary circumstances serve as a spring door latch with the additionalfeature of emergency release when needed.

The door is provided with a bar which will operate to trip the latchwhen pressure is exerted against the bar, and continued pressure willforce the door open. This bar is located in such a position that contactby any person, whether an adult or a child, will operate it. It is anobject of the invention to provide an operating bar which will movehorizontally when pressure is exerted against it, as distinguished fromdownward movement which is a feature of most such release latches, thuseliminating rubbing of the bar against a persons body since inhorizontal movement of the bar the body will move along with it.

Another important object is to provide a release bar for the latch whichcan be grasped by the hand and operated without danger of pinching thehand when it is operated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which ischaracterized by its simplicity of design and low cost of manufacture.

from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in

vWhichr l Figure 1 is a plan view of a door embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the operating partsof the device in an alternate position;

Figure 3 is an elevational View of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 2 showing the device asbeing operable by two diierent means;

Figure 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Y Figure 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a View of a modified form of the device of my invention;

Figure 8 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a View similar to Figure 9 but showing the operating partsin an alternate position;

Figure 11 is a front elevational view of another modification of myinvention; and

Figure l2 is a plan View of the device shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a plan view of a modied form of release latch;

Figure 14 is an elevational view of another form of 'release latch;

Figure 15 is a plan View of the device shown in Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken on the line lli-I6 of Figure 15, onan enlarged scale;

Figure 1'7 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line II-I'I ofFigure 14;

Figure 18 is a sectional view' of the latch bolt assembly used with theform of device of Figure 14; and

Figure 19 is an elevational view showing two forms of latchescooperating to retain double doors closed.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a door is indicated generallyby the reference numeral II which is supported by hinges I2 in a wall I3for outward swinging movement. A jamb I4 is positioned at the other endof the door and secured to the jamb is a latch bolt keeper I5 yadaptedto be engaged by a latch bolt on the door to hold the door closed. Onthe inside of the door is provided a bar or rail I6 against which a per-`son may exert pressure to operate the device and open the door in caseof emergency. Mounted on `the door are two plates I1 and I9 each withprojecting lugs 2|] in which levers 2| and 22 respectively, may bepivoted on pins 23. The opposite ends of the levers 2| and 22 arepivoted in U- shaped brackets 24 and 25, respectively, see Figure 5,which are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the bar I6.

A lock assembly, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 26,is located near the closing end of the door and comprises a housing 21which is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the door by means ofears 29 which extend outwardly from the housing 21. Positioned withinthe housing is the usual latch bolt 30 provided with a tapered edge 3|which rides over the keeper I in the closing motion of the door. Areduced shank 32 is attached to the rear end of the latch bolt andextends outwardly of the housing 21 and is surrounded by compressionspring 34 which reacts between the latch bolt and the rear end of thehousing 21 to bias the latch bolt to latched position. Pivotallyconnected with the reduced shank 32 of the latch bolt are a pair oflinks 35, the other ends of which are pivoted at 36 at the point ofconnection between the lever 2| and the bracket 24.

On the outside of the door is mounted a bracket 31, bolted to the dooror otherwise secured as desired, having lugs 39 in which is pivoted anoutside release handle 40. The handle is suitably shaped for grasping bythe hand and is provided with a forked member 4 I, see Figure 6, whicheX- tends through the door and ts over the reduced shank 32 of the latchbolt to have a one-way motion transmitting connection with the latchbolt. The other end of the handle has an aperture 40' for locking thehandle. In the position of the handle in Figures 1 and 2 it may belooked by a padlock 42, or similar device, by passing the hasp of thelock through the aperture 45' and through a corresponding `aperture in abracket 43, which bracket is bolted on the outside of the door next tothe handle.

In the position of the device shown in Figure l, the latch bolt is inlocked position, being held in this position by the spring 34 and thebar is in outwardly deflected position, i. e., away from the door. Whenpressure is exerted against the bar from the inside of the door, thelevers 2| and 22 turn about their pivots 23 in a counterclockwisedirection, and consequently the bar will follow the movement of thelevers and will be forced inwardly toward the door and also at the sametime laterally of the door in a direction away from the jamb I4. In thismotion away from the jamb I4, the bar will unlock the latch bolt 3|)through the links 35. Figure 2 shows the bar I6 in its innermostposition against the door. The levers 2| and 22 are so shaped that whenthey reach the position shown in Figure 2 the bent portions of thelevers will abut against the door and act as a check against furthermovement of the bar I6. As will be seen from these two iigures the latchmay be operated by the bar I6 without interference by the outsiderelease handle 40, and it may even be accomplished when the handle 40 islocked against movement, since the forked member 4| merely has a one-waymotion transmitting connection against shoulders 35 projecting outwardlyfrom the adjacent end ofthe links 35; This is also true even if theoutside release handle 40 should be temporarily ,frozen against motionby snow or ice.

The U'shaped brackets 24 and 25 are of appreciable length so that thebar I5 is positioned at some distance from the point cf connection ofCII ILD

the links with the bracket 24, and if the bar should be grasped by thehand between it and the links 35, the hand will not be injured as thebar is forced toward the door. The bar I6 has only limited movementtoward the door because the stop shoulders 2| and 22 on the levers 2|and 22, respectively, abutting against the door prevent the bar I6 frombeing moved any closer to the door than the position it occupies inFigure 2, where it can be easily seen that there is ample space betweenthe bar and the links 35. It is obvious that no matter where the bar I6is grasped pinching of the hand is prevented, and this safety feature isnot limited to the space between the bar and the links 35.

Figure 4 shows the operation of the device from the outside by means ofthe handle 45. The handle, when it is grasped and pulled outwardly fromthe door, pivots about the pivot 38, and the forked extension 4|, whichis integral with the handle 4I), consequently rotates with it and actsto unlatch the latch bolt. Thus it will be seen that the device can beoperated from either side of the door, and it can be locked againstoperation from outside the door, While at the same time allowing theemergency release to operate from the inside.

In Figures 7 to 10, inclusive, is shown an application of the operatingbar of the previous embodiments to a different form of latching means.The reference numeral II indicates the door generally, and at the topand bottom are latch bolt keepers and 46 against which latch bolts areadapted to engage to hold the door closed. A latching assembly 41 issecured at the top of the door and a similar latch assembly 49 issecured at the bottom of the door, and each is provided with a latchbolt 50 with the usual reduced shank 5| and compression spring 52 forbiasing the latch bolt to latched position. Mounted on the door is aplate 54 on which are pivoted two bell crank levers 55 and 55. Links 51and 59 are attached to respective latch bolts 50. Link 51 is adjustablysecured to the bell crank lever 55 at 60, and link 59 is adjustablysecured to bell crank lever 56 at 6|.

An operating bar' 62, similar to' that of the previous embodiment, ispivotally connected to the door by means of parallel levers 64 and 65.Levers 64 and 65 are pivotally connected at 66 and 61 to the U-s'hapedbrackets 69 and 10 which are welded or similarly secured to the bar 62.The other ends of the levers 64 and 55 are pivoted ih brackets 1| and 12which are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the door. Upper andlower links 13 and 14 are connected between the bell crank levers 55 and56 and the point of connection 66 between the lever 64 and the bracket69. Also as in the previous embodiment, the levers A65| and 65 areshaped with shoulders 64 and 65', respectively, which are adapted toabut against the door.

The operation of the device is very similar to that of the previousembodiment. When pressure is exerted against the bar 62, it is forcedinwardly against the door and in' such movement the levers 64 and 55rotate about their pivot points in the brackets 1I and 'I2 in aclockwise direction and as a result the bar 62 is at the same timeforced to the left as shown in Figures 9 and l0. Through this movementthe links 13 and 14 rotate the bell crank levers 55 andY 55 about theirpivots to the positions shown in dotted lines in Figure '1, drawing thelatch bolts 50 to released otherwise suitably secured to the door 85..end of the bar 91 is formed with an .inturned positions. The shoulders64' and 65 abutting against the door prevent movement of the bar anyfurther than the position which it occupies in Figure 10. The U-shapedbrackets 69 and 10 are made of considerable length so that when the bar02 is in its foremost position toward the door there is sufficient spacebetween the bar and the links 13 and 14 and there is no likelihood ofthe hand being pinched when the bar is grasped; and of course if the baris grasped in any other place there is also no danger of pinching thehand.

In Figures 11 and 12, I have shown another modication in which meansoperable from the outside of the door is applied to the embodiment shownin Figures '7 to l0. The door is indicated by the numeral and mountedthereon is the plate 54 which pivotally supports the bell crank levers55 and 56. A portion of the operating bar 62 and the upper and lowerlinks 13 and 14 connecting the operating bar 62 with the bell cranklevers 55 and 56 are shown.

A handle 15 is mounted on the outside of the door in a bracket 16 inwhich it is adapted to pivot on operation thereof. An extension 11 is lformed integral with the handle 15 and extends through an opening 19 inthe door Il. The end of this extension is in the form of a verticalflange or plate which occupies a position just to the right of the endsof the links 13 and 14 and the corresponding ends of the bell cranklevers 55 and 56 to which the links are connected, said extension thusbeing in position to exert a pushing force to the left on the verticalarms of the bell crank levers.

A person grasping the handle 15 from outside the door will turn it aboutits pivot in the bracket 16 in a clockwise direction, forcing the end ofthe extension 11 to the left and releasing the latches on the door. Thisoperation has precisely the same eiiect in unlatching the door asmovement of the bar 02 toward the door. However, because of the one-waymotion transmitting connection between the outside handle 15 and thelatching means, the release bar 02 can release the latching meanswithout necessitating that the outside handle move concurrentlytherewith. Provision may be made for locking the handle 15 againstunauthorized operation, substantially as previously described inconnection with Figures 1 and 2.

In Figures 13 to 19, inclusive, are shown horizontally and verticallydisposed latching devices. Thehorizontal device is shown in Figure 13 invwhich the numeral 85 indicates a door, 86 a door jamb at the closingedge of the door, and 81 suitable keeper means Ior retaining the door inlatched position and against which the door abuts in its closing motion.Mounted on the inside of the door near its closing edgeis a latch boltassembly 89 which comprises a housing 90 in which is mounted a latchingbolt 9| provided with an inclined surface 92 and a reduced shank portion94. The inner end of the reduced shank 94 is slidably mounted in a guideextension 95 formed on the inside of the housing 90. This end of theshank 94 is of forked formation and between .the prongs of the fork ismounted a roller 96.

A release bar 91 is mounted on the inside of the door on parallel levers99 which are pivoted in U-shaped brackets welded or otherwise secured tothe bar, and in brackets |02 riveted or One arm. |04 which is adapted toiit between the prongs of the inner end of the shank 94 and bear againstthe roller 96, thereby establishing a one-way motion transmittingconnection between the release bar 91 and the shank S4 of the latchingbolt. The other end of the bar91 is formed with an arm |05 which engagesin a slot |06 formed in housing |01 which is secured to the door andacts as a guide for the arm |05 and thereby the bar 91. When pressure isbrought to bear on the bar 91 towards the door; it will pivot on thelevers 99 and be forced to the right as shown in Figure 13 and inwardlytoward the door to the position shown in dotted lines. When this occurs,the arm |04 bearing against the roller 95 will force the latch bolt 8|to the right as shown in Figure 13, releasing the latch bolt from thekeeper means 81 and enabling the door to be opened. A slot |09 is formedin the housing to accommodate the movement of the arm 04 when operatingthe latch bolt.

The extent to which the bar 91 can be moved in relation to the door isdetermined by the slot |09, the arm |04 engaging one or the other end ofthe slot. The limit to which the bar can be forced inwardly toward thedoor is that position shown in dotted lines where it can be seen thatthe arm |04 is to the right in the slot |09 and bearing against the endof the slot. The brackets |00 are of considerable length so that the bar01 will not fold up against the levers 99 but will be spaced somedistance therefrom and this feature together with the fact that the barhas only limited movement prevents any pinching of the hand between thebar 91 and the levers E30.

Mounted on the outside of the door is a bracket ||0 in which is pivoteda handle provided with an integral arm ||2 which extends through anopening in the door to the inner side thereof into the housing 90.Mounted on the inner side of the door within the housing 90 is a guidebracket ||4 for supporting a slide bar H5 provided with an inturnedprojection H6 for engaging a stud ||1 secured in the latch bolt 9|. Thearm ||2 extending from the outside handle has operative engagement in anaperture in the slide bar H5, andthe above described arrangement ofparts establishes a 'one-way motion transmitting connection between theoutside handle and the latching bolt, whereby the latching bolt can bereleased through releasing movement of the inside release bar withoutcompelling concurrent movement of the outside handle By grasping thehandle lil and pulling it outwardly from the door, i. e., in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 13, the arm I l2 willforce the slide bar i5 to the right engaging the stud ||1 and therebyforcing the latch bolt to the right and releasing the latch bolt fromthe keeper means 81. Surrounding the shank 94 and reacting between thehead of the latch bolt and the extension S5, is a compression spring 03which forces the latch bolt to latched position when the pressure isreleased from the bar 91 and the handle By this arrangement it can beseen that the door can be opened either from the inside or the outside,and if desired, means such as shown in Figure l may be provided on theoutside of the door for locking the handle against operation to permitopening of the door only from the inside.

Another form of locking means for locking the operating handles 40 andagainst movement is shown invFigures 1, 13 and 19. In Figure 19, a keyoperated lock 91", of the sliding latch type is shown diagrammatically.In this form the sliding latch 92 shown in Figure 13, acts as a stop forthe slide bar H5. The sliding latch 92 also performs the same functionwith respect to the member 4| shown in Figure 1.

Figures 14, and 16 show an arrangement similar to that of Figure 13applied to vertical latching means at the top and bottom of the door.Mounted on the inside of the door I I8 is a release bar H9 mounted onparallel levers |20 which are pivoted in U-shaped brackets |2| welded orotherwise secured on the bar H9 and in brackets |22 secured to the door.The bar H9 is provided with an inturned arm |24 which lits through aslot k|23 in a housing |25 for operating a mechanism therein thatactuates the latching means, as will be described later. The other endof the bar H9 is provided with an inturned arm |25 which fits into aslot |21 of housing |29 for guiding that end of the bar H9. At the topand the bottom of the door are latch means |3|! with the usual latchbolts |3| engageable with keeper' means |32 mounted on the top door jamband the floor. From each latch assembly is a link |34 connected with thelatch bolt |3| and having an adjustable connection with the operatingmechanism contained within the housing |25.

As described in connection with Figure 13, in this form also the bar H9is arranged so that there is no pinching of the hand between the bar andthe levers |20. The arm |34 sliding in the slot |23 limits the movementof the bar H9, and the brackets |2| are of suflicient length that thebar and the levers will not fold up tegether.

Reference should be had to Figure 16 for a view of the mechanismcontained in the housing |25. A pinion |35 is carried by a stud |35mounted on the door, and also carried by the stud and driven by thepinion is a collar with oppositely disposed ears |31 to which the links|34 are connected. A slide |39 is slidably pcsi tioned in the housing|25 and is provided with a pair of upwardly extending lugs and |4| inwhich is mounted a roller |42. Secured to the lug A|l|| is a rack|44'which engages the pinion |35 and is adapted to actuate the latter.The

arm |24 of the bar H9 bears against the roller |42 as shown in thisfigure, thereby establishing a one-way motion transmitting connectionbetween the release bar H9 and the latch releasing slide |39. Whenpressure is exerted on the bar H9 toward the door, the bar swingingabout the links |25 will be forced to the left as shown in Figure 15,and thereby the arm |24 of the bar H9 bearing against the vrol-ler |42will force -the slide |39 and consequently the rack |54 to the left asshown in Figure 16, thereby rotating the pinion |35 in a clockwisedirection. As

va consequence of this operation, when the pinion |35 is rotated, thecollar with the ears |31 will also be rotated and the links |34 will beactuated inwardly toward each other, releasing the latch means |3|) andenabling the door to be opened. Figure 17 shows the shape of the housing|25 in cross-section and the manner in which the slide |39 is held inposition therein. With the housing |25 mounted on the door, the lefthand side of the housing becomes the bottom, and the surface |45supports the slide |39 in position therein. This prevents any bindingaction between the arm |24, the slide |35, and the pinion |35.

vFigure 18 shows the latching assembly |35,

which comprises a housing |46 in which is slidably mounted the latchbolt I3 The latter comprises a reduced shank portion |41 with its innerend of forked formation and slidably mounted in a projection |49 formedon the inner side of the housing. Between the prongs of the forked innerend of the shank |41 is carried a roller |59. Secured on the inner endof the link |34 is a collar l5! with a projection |52 tting between theprongs of the forked inner end of the shank |41 and engaging the roller|50. When the link |34 is actuated it draws the latch' bolt i3| into thehousing, enabling the door to be opened, and when pressure on the link|34 is released, a spring |54 surrounding the shank |41 and reactingbetween the head of the latch bolt and the projection |59 forces thelatch `bolt to latched position. A bracket |53 limits the extent towhich the link |34 may be retracted into the housing |45 andconsequently the extent to which the latch bolt |3| will be extended.

Figure 19 shows the manner in which the two latching devices shown inFigures 13 and 14 may be used in cooperation with double doors forsecuring them closed. The door to the left, I8, is provided with thelatching device shown in Figure 141, and the latching bolts |3| engagekeeper means on the top jamb and on the floor, thus holding the doorclosed. At the closing edge of the door H3 is a keeper plate |56. Thedoor 35 is provided with the latching device shown in Figure 18. W henin closed position, the latching bolt 9| thereof will engage the keeperplate |56, thus holding that door closed. With this arrangement, eitherdoor may be opened rst whether the other door is open or not, and whenthe door HB is opened rst the other door will be in unlatched position.This arrangement may be used also in connection with the forms ofdevices shown in Figures 1 and '1.

While I have shown specific `embodiments of the invention, it is to beunderstood that I do not intend to be limited to the details shown anddescribed but that all arrangements of parts to l meet particularadaptations, and substitution of equivalents are to be within the scopeof the invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination of aplurality of latch means for retaining the door closed, links connectedto said latch means, a rack and pinion operating through said links foractuating said latch means, a bar for operating said rack and pinion,brackets secured to said bar, and parallel levers pivoted on the doorand said brackets and thereby supporting said .bar for horizontalmovement toward and away from the door, said brackets being ofsubstantial length for spacing said bar from the points of connection ofsaid brackets with said levers whereby when said bar is in its foremostposition toward the door space is provided between said bar and saidlevers for grasping by the hand.

2. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination oflatch means, a latch keeper engageable by said latch means for retainingthe vdoor closed, a bar, parallel levers pivoted on the door and on saidbar for mounting said bar on the door in spaced relation thereto, aroller operative to actuate said latch means, said bar having aninturned arm extending toward the door and engaging said roller foractuating said latch means, said bar being adapted t0 swing on saidparallel levers horizontally toward the door and away from saidlatchkeeper, and away from the doorv and toward said latch keeper,whereby in the movement of said bar toward the door and away from saidlatch keeper said inturned arm acts against said roller to actuate saidlatch means to unlatched position.

3. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination oflatch means, a latch keeper engageable by said latch means for retainingthe door closed, a bar, parallel levers pivoted on the door and on saidbar for mounting said bar on the door in spaced relation thereto, aroller connected with said latch means, said bar having-an inturned armextending toward the door and engaging said roller for actuating saidlatch means, said bar being adapted to swing on said parallel levershorizontally toward the door and away from said latch keeper, and awayfrom the door and toward said latch keeper whereby in the movement ofsaid bar toward the door and away from said latch keeper said inturnedarm coacts with said roller to actuate said latch means to unlatchedposition, and yieldable means acting on said latch` means and operablewhen pressure is released from said bar to return said latch means tolatched position and move said bar away from the door and toward saidlatch keeper.

4. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination oflatch means, a latch keeper engageable by said latch means for retainingthe door closed, a bar, parallel levers piv- 'oted on the door and onsaid bar for mounting said bar on the door in spaced relation thereto, aroller operative to actuate said latch means, said bar having aninturned arm extending toward 'the door and engaging said roller foractuating said latch means, said bar being adapted to swing on saidparallel levers horizontally toward the door and away from said latchkeeper, and away from the door and towardA said latch keeper whereby inthe movement of said bar toward the door and away from said latch keepersaid inturned arm coacts with said roller to actuate said latch means tounlatched position, and stop means engageable by said inturned arm forlimiting the movement of said latch means toward unlatched position andthe movement of said bar toward the door after which continued movementof said bar forces the doorvto open position.

5, In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination oflatch means, a latch keeper engageable by said latch means for retainingthe door closed, a bar, parallel levers pivotally mounted on the doorand on said bar for mounting said bar on the door in spaced relationthereto, said bar being adapted to swing on said parallel levershorizontally toward and away from and laterally of the door, said barhaving inturned arms extending toward the door, guide means on the doorengageable by said inturned arms for guiding the movements of said bar,a roller operative to actuate said latch means and engageable by one ofsaid inturned arms, whereby as pressure is applied on said bar indoor-opening direction said -one inturned arm acts against said rollerto actuate said latch means to unlatched position.

6. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination of alatch bolt on the door v"for retaining the door closed, said latch boltbeing slidable to latched and'unlatched positions, a roller operative toactuate said latch bolt, a bar on the door pivotally mounted thereon onparallel levers for horizontal movement tward the door, said bar havingan inturned arm engageable with said roller, whereby on movement of saidbar toward the door vsaid inturned arm acts against said roller toactuate said latch bolt to unlatched position.

7. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination of alatch bolt on the door for retaining the door closed, said latch boltbeing slidable laterally of the door to latched and unlatched positions,a roller arranged to actuate said latch bolt, a bar on the doorpivotally mounted thereon on parallel levers for horizontal movementlaterally of the door, said bar having an inturned arm engageable withsaid roller, whereby on movement of said bar laterally of the door saidinturned arm actuates said roller to move said latch bolt to unlatchedposition.

8. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination oflatch means for retaining the door closed, said latch means beingslidable horizontally to latched` and unlatched positions, said-latchmeans having a forked extension with a roller mounted therein, a bar onthe door in spaced relation thereto pivotally mounted thereon-onparallel levers for horizontal movement toward and away from andlaterally of the door, said bar having an inturned arm extending 4towardthe door, said inturned arm being slidable in said forked extension andengageable with said roller, said bar being operative to unlatch saidlatch means on movement toward and laterally of the door, said inturnedarm, on movement of the bar in the unlatching operation, sliding freelyin said forked extension in the movement toward the door and bearingagainst said roller and drawing said latch means to unlatched positionin the movement laterally of the door.

9. In apparatus of the class described for a door in a door jamb, thecombination of latch keepers mounted on the door jamb, latch means onthe door engageable with said latch keepers for retaining the doorclosed, links connected to said latch means, a rack and pinion operatingthrough said links for actuating said latch means, a roller arranged toactuate said rack, a bar on the door pivotally mounted thereon onparallel levers for horizontal movement toward and away `from the door,said bar having an inturned arm engageable with said roller, whereby onmovement of said bar toward the door said inturned arm bears againstsaid roller and thereby operates said rack and pinion and actuates saidlatch means to unlatched position.

10. In apparatus of the class described for a door in a door jamb, thecombination of latch keepers mounted on the door jamb, latch means onthe door engageable with said latch keepers for retaining the doorclosed, links connected to said latch means, a rack and pinion operatingthrough said links for actuating said latch means, a roller operativelyconnected with said rack, a bar on the door pivotally mounted thereon onparallel levers for movement laterally of the door, said bar having aninturned arm engageable with said roller, whereby on movement of saidbar laterally of the door said inturned arm imparts motion to saidroller and thereby operates said rack and pinion and actuates said latchmeans to unlatched position.

1l. In apparatus of the class described for a doorin a door jamb, thecombination of latch `keepers mounted on the door jamb, latch means doorpivotally mounted thereon on parallel levers for movement toward andaway from and lateraldoor in a door jamb, the combination of latchkeepers mounted' on the door jamb, latch means on the door engageablewith said latch keepers in opposite directions for retaining the doorclosed, links connected to said latch means, a rack and pinion, saidlinks` being attached to said pinion, said rack and pinion, operatingthrough said links, being adapted to actuate said latch means inopposite directions to unlatched position, a, roller operative toactuate said rack, a bar on the door pivotally mounted thereon onparallellevers for horizontal movement, and said .bar having an inturnedarm cooperating with said roller, whereby said bar, on pressure beingapplied thereto, acts against said roller and thereby operates said rackand pinion.

13. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination oflatching bolt means for retaining the door closed, release meanscomprising a release bar adapted to be pushed toward the door in thereleasing operation, substantially parallel links pivotally mountingsaid release t bar on the-door for swinging movement toward and awayfrom the door, said latching bolt means comprising a bolt'operatingmember, said release bar comprising an inturned arm member, and a rollercarried by one of said members and adapted to coact with the other ofsaid members whereby to transmit motion from said release bar to saidlatching bolt means.

14. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination oflatching bolt means for retaining the door closed, release meanscomprising a release bar adapted to be pushed toward the door in thereleasing operation, substantially parallel links pivotally mountingsaid release bar on the door for swinging movement toward and away fromthe door, said latching bolt means comprising a bolt operating member,said release bar comprising an inturned arm member, a roller carried byone of said members and adapted to coact with the other of said memberswhereby to transmit motion from said release bar to said latching boltmeans, and stop means operative through the medium of said inturned armmember for limiting, the swinging motion of said release bar toward saiddoor, whereby to prevent the possibility of a person having his fingerspinched between said release bar and the door.

15. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination oflatching bolt means for retaining the door closed, emergency releasemeans comprising an emergency release bar adapted to be pushed towardthe door in an emergency releasing operation, substantially parallellinks pivotally mounting said release bar on the door for swingingmovement'toward and away from the door, said release bar comprising aninturned arm member, means for transmitting motion from said inturnedarm member to said latching bolt means for releasing the door when saidrelease bar is pushed toward the door, and stop means operative throughthe medium of said inturned arm member for limiting the swinging motionof said release bar toward said door, whereby to prevent the possibilityof a person having his ngers pinched between said release bar and thedoor.

16. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of latchingmeans for holding the door closed, a release bar on the inside of thedoor, a pair of substantially parallel links pivotally mounting saidrelease bar for swinging movement toward the door, an inturned armprojecting from said release bar, and means establishing a one-waymotion transmitting connection between said inturned arm andsaidlatching means.

17. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of latchingmeans for holding the door closed, said latching means comprising alatch operating member, inside release means mounted on the inner sideof the door comprising a release bar adapted to be pushed toward thedoor in a releasing operation, a pair of substantially parallel linkspivotally mounting said release bar on said door for parallel linkswinging motion toward and away from said door, and means rigid withsaid release bar and separate from said parallel links operative toengage said latch operating member for transmitting operating motionfrom said bar to said latch operating member.

18. In a latch bolt structure for a door adapted to be operated by anoutside handle capable of being locked, the combination of latchingmeans for holding the door closed, a release bar on the inside of thedoor, a pair of substantially parallel links pivotally mounting saidrelease bar for swinging movement toward the door, an inturned armprojecting from said release bar, and means establishing a motiontransmitting connection between said inturned arm and said latchingmeans, whereby said inside release bar is always operative to releasesaid latching means upon being swung toward said door even though saidoutside handle is locked.

19. In apparatus of the class described for a door adapted to beoperated by an outside handle,

which outside handle is capable of being locked or otherwise preventedfrom having effective operation, the combination of latching means forholding the door closed, said latching means comprising a latchoperating member, inside release means mounted on the inner side of thedoor comprising a release bar adapted to be pushed toward the door in areleasing operation, a pair of substantially parallel links pivotallymounting said release bar on said door'for swinging motion toward andaway from said door, and means rigid with said release bar and separatefrom said parallel links operative to engage said latch operating memberfor transmitting operating motion from said bar to said latch operatingmember, whereby said inside release bar is always operative to releasesaid latching means upon being swung toward the door even-though saidoutside handle is vthen locked or otherwisel prevented fromhavingeiective operation.

ELLIS J. G. PHILLIPS.

